Lulu Carter

1st birthday

I cannot believe my sweet little guy is one already. I remember walking in to school the week after he was born with him tucked up in a ball against my shoulder, like a baby possum, held with one hand. He was so so tiny and its pretty amusing that now people stop and ask me how old he is only to exclaim "but he's huge". All I can say is his brothers must have been absolute tankers because this boy is not even 10 kilos yet.

I still suffer that surge of wanting to eat him up when he grins at me but we never really grow out of that do we? He has realised he can chase me around slug style when he wants something and grabs hold of my foot or leg until I pick him up. He has also worked out that he is just as capable as us at blowing raspberries on tummies and he collapses in fits of giggles when he manages a huge farty sound on somebodies belly. Hysterical. Really. 

He throws his ball and slugs around after it then throws it again. This game goes on and on and he loves it when Oliver gets down on the floor and plays this game with him. Climbing up against things is offering a whole new world of possibilites but sometimes he forgets to line his feet up properly first so it can be a challenge. Sometimes though, he does it perfectly and finds he can reach into the centre of the coffee table. I learnt this today when he sent Ashleighs Canon hurling to the ground. Hmm.

We play growling games. Yes we really do. In fact its how he and I get about in the car mostly. He growls. I repeat it. He growls a different tune. I repeat it. This can go on forever. Probably a bad habit to get in to but I can't tell you how FUNNY this kid is.

On Sunday he woke before midday from his nap. He then flatly refused to go back to sleep yet sailed through his birthday in the park with his party hat on and a cuddle and grin for everyone. 

The park? I have never ran a party outside the home before and I wont be again. Even though it was a small gathering by party standards, being unable to set up until the day and actually set up a good hour before your guests arrive because you need to get the right spot ( in our case the right tree) put crazy pressure on to get things finished ahead of time. We then took a car load up as well as walking the pram loaded up with supplies and me carrying the cake on its pedestal up to the park. The cake weighs as much as Charlie I'm sure. My arms were down to my ankles by the time we got up there! It became such a rush that I didnt get a wide shot of the tree with the garlands up and the table set underneath which is such a shame because it looked SO PRETTY. Honestly I would have got married under that tree.

I knew when we decided to have the party in the park I needed a tree for decorating and there is only one 'good' tree in our park, and I wantd Charlie to be sitting for cake and photos.

On ebay I bought a white Ikea Antilop highchair for $8. A quick scrub and it was ready to go.

I bought tissue paper and cardstock and make tassels and sewed randomly cut shapes onto thread. 

A sheet of Heather Bailey felt in white became a party hat after it was brushed with fabric stiffener on the inside overnight. I put a second coat on for good measure. He kept it on the entire party! I was amazed. The pompom was made using some leftover orange cascade 220 and glued on top. The trim was bought in New York at Purl Soho because I loved the colour so it was nice to use it on something special. If you need a cone template for making party hats there is one here.

I had wanted to make a 'happy birthday' banner but ran out of time so cut out scallops and painted letters on then then taped them to the highchair.

The spotty cake idea was from here and the stripes are all over Pinterest. I used a silicone pop cake mold and they did over cook a little on their bottoms so had to be trimmed. Also next time I will make more spots because there were a lot of blank spaces when slicing the cake despite having 6-7 balls in each cake. I didn't use packet mix despite making a huge amount of cake and using a million eggs. I thought about it but I decided I didnt want to eat packet, I'm sure the other adults didnt want to eat packet and most importantly I didnt want Charlies first birthday cake indulgence to be anything other than home made. The spotty cake was sandwiched with buttercream then covered in rolled fondant. The stripes cake was covered in buttercream because I didnt think the kids would all want to eat fondant.

The pinata was great although I filled it with far too many sweets. And they wouldnt share -little monkeys.

Getting us all dressed nicely for a famiy photo completely slipped my mind when I was racing around like a crazy person cutting the crusts off finger sandwiches and dipping marshmallows in chocolate and sprinkle. A little bit of renactment coming up for us I think.

It was lovely! I am so pleased it was a gorgeous afternoon and so pleased it is over. Its time to jump on the christmas crazy train isnt it!!

 

 

 

cloud pinata tutorial

So easy you'll never buy one again!

The last time I made a pinata, it was a Stegasourus and it took me 3 weeks. I put so many layers of papier mache on the poor rather fabulous dinosaur fellow, it took a beating from some enthusiastic dads to crack it open. He was beautiful and as the children stomped him into the earth I nearly sobbed.

SO. This time I went the cardboard route. 

You will need :

an old box ( we had a large rectangular fruit box which was perfect)

tape-masking or similar

3 or 4 packets of tissue paper ( if you want to use crepe paper instead go for it)

felt for the raindrops

strong craft glue

fishing line

thick needle paper scissors

fabric scissors

 

*Firstly you need to trace you shape onto the base of the box. Remember you need both sides to fit so divide the base in half then mirror your cloud shape. Cut the two pieces out.

* Cut the sides of the box off in long strips about 4inches (10cm) wide. You will notice you can bend the strips across the grain so do this as it will help you bend them around the shape of the cloud.

*Cut some pieces of tape and have them ready-they dont need to be very wide. If you tape this together really really well it will hold together really really well when the kids are having a whack and you want those sweets to burst out. Not ideal!

*Start bending the strips around the sides and taping as you go. I taped them on the edge, not inside the edge, as it held the shape better. 

*Cut some raindrops from the left over cardboard

*Carefully cut a flap in the top so you can fill it when you're done

*You also need to cut a large flap across the bottom if you want someone to be able to pull something to open it. Like a one year old ( gulp) using a raindrop. 

*Start covering it in tissue paper-large pieces and not neat as this is just the 'crumb layer' if you like. Leave the flaps open

*Now cover your raindrops in felt-just place a raindrop on a piece of felt and cut it out about 5mm bigger. Do a piece for each side of each raindrop and glue them together with the cardboard shape in the centre. Squeeze the felt edges together sealing the cardboard shape inside and leaving your raindrops nice and neat.

* Now thread some fishing line onto the needle and thread it through the top of a raindrop. Secure with a coupld of knots. Work out where you want this raindrop hanging and then thread it through the flap or edge of the bottom of the cloud. reoeat with each raindrop.
**DONT FORGET to secure the 'pull' raindrop to the flap near the open end so that it will pull open when you want it too

*Cut strips of tissue paper and scallop one edge. The size is up to you. Glue the strips, starting at the bottom, across the front and back of the pinata. When you layer the sides, start at the centre bottom and work your way up the sides so that both sides have the layers going the right way

* Glue them to the flap but not right across-you'll do that after filling it

* Thread some fishing line and secure to the front with several knots then leaving about 1 metre, cut the line then secure to the other side. This way you have a long loop for hanging or securing with ribbon to a branch. The cloud looks so much nicer if you cant see the support lines

* Cut some contrasting raindrops out and stick on randomly on the front and back- I went with silver so it shimmers when hanging

* I glued a number 1 on a raindrop for fun and to remind us which one yank on

So there you go. You can apply this technique to any sape you like.

Have fun!

 

 

kcwc - my old romper

I love this.

Its a treasure kept by mum and I dare say one of the reasons I was often thought by strangers, to be a little boy. I dont remeber putting Henry in it and Oliver was too big for it by the time it was warm enough. Charlie wore it a handful of times and that was it. So Ive just drafted a larger size and made him another.

Not buttons at this stage but the straps are long enough that I can put some on when this becomes a little short but it is so cute! And fast. 

How many have you done this week? There are some seriously kids running around this week. Check out the flickr pool.

KCWC

Third project- a linen kurta.

I made a pattern based on one that used to be mine. It was quite paneled to get the sleeve/armhole shaping so I adjusted it to make regular armholes. Its quite easy making your own patterns even if you dont have any experience. Just remember seam allowances and align measurements. When you have a piece of clothing thats relatively simple and you love the shape, I really recomend giving it a go. So often I follow a pattern and it doesnt work. Things going wrong is a lot less frustrating when you havent spent money on a pattern and the postage.

For facings you are  tracing off the main front and back pieces but curve them  to finish a couple of inches down from the edge. Then I turned them under and hemed them before attaching them to the neck edge. NOT the shoulder seams. When you open out the facings attached to each piece, you then sew across all four shoulder seams from facing/front to back/facing. Then you press and tuck your facings inside. Neat.

I clipped into the front slit before turning it through. In hind sight I think a propper placket would look nicer but I dont mind the look of this opening.

Next up-pj pants and some shorts for Henry. And I'll make another hat.

KCWC

Ive never joined Megs challenge before but this time I thought....meh....why not? So late sunday night I joined and then I thought....eek! whatamIgoingtosew?? As you do.

Monday night-

Oliver & S bucket hat. Unfortunately I made it when Charlie was asleep and in the morning I was annoyed to see that it didnt fit. I made the medium size too so I have no idea what happened there. It measures correctly.

 Well lets just say I had to yank it on. Which is possibly ideal given that its hard for him to toss it on the ground but I think we'll call it a fail.

There is a chance he has what is technically referred to as a 'boomba' of a head.

Tuesday -

Happy.  Remember these little harem style pants I whipped up? Time for a replacement so I traced them onto some stash (being very generous) and decided I would add a bum patch rather than another panel.

Come on in plate. I think those baby pants with the bum insert are so cute but I didnt have the time to play around making the pattern as while he naps, I must sew. You know how it goes! So I cheated the look with applique but placed the circle low enough that it would be caught in the crotch seem. 

When Charlies was sitting I measured him from the waistband and down to his seat and along to the ankles. That way I had the right length when sitting with a bit of growth length. I settled on 44 cm. Add two inches for elastic turnover and take the main fabric length back by 4cm as I added a panel at the hem.

I machined the edge down then two more rows for detail. 

I then french seamed the crotch/inside leg. I know-its a curve. But I hate edges more than I hate some puckered crotch seam and its the babies puckered crotch seam not mine. Seems justified.

He woke, got into everything and eventually I had to secure him. He looks so patient here. Not really. The delay on my camera simply caught this pose. Were you fooled?

There is a HUGE size difference! But funnily enough both fit him. Crazy. I dare say he is much more comfortable on the new ones even if his daddy thinks they look like pjs.

Its the customer that counts though isnt it. I think he's happy.

So now I'm off to finish the kurta I am making from some orange check linen based on an old top of mine.

How are you going with your sewing list this week? 

family daze

Did you have a happy fathers day? Ours began with the usual. The night before, the boys came to me in a panic asking what "have we got Dad"? I showed them what I, the fascilitator of all occassions success or failure, had bought. Actually what their father had bought as he'd been totally indecisive with me about what he fancied for fathers day and I'd got fed up with it and announced he'd get diddly squat. Hmm.

I showed them the shirts, wrapped them because they were busy freaking out over their identical drawings on their hand made cards, and organised a hiding spot. They decided my hiding spot was not up to scratch and, when I wasnt looking, moved it to a better one.

Alright then.

On Sunday we woke to no Daddy. He had raced off to the airport because his parents needed to catch their flight back to melbourne. A bowling tournament commitment I believe.

While he was gone, Henry and I went crazy making crepes, caramelising strawberries and bananas to go with the crepes and decorating the kitchen table. Oliver sauntered out in time to greet Ashleigh and dig in to his breakfast.

There is something I'm not doing right isnt there? Somewhere along the line between toddlers who love to dust and make beds to practically adolescents who step out of their knickers and walk away, the wheels have fallen off. Crashed into the gutter leaving the house proud in feotal position by the side of the road,wine in hand.

Oliver turned nine on Friday. He did so without one single gift handmade by me. Now there is a slippery slope if ever I felt one. 

I think the entire restaurant singing 'Happy Birthday' to him and his local football team dining at the next table was the best gift he could have had though.

He seems taller. I bought him size ten pajamas from Boden and they fit him. I couldnt believe it.

Sunday we got dressed up and went off to Rozelle for some family photos. This is something we have been meaning to do since Henry was a baby. I imagine being married to a cinematographer/photgrapher is not unlike being married to a builder or landscape gardener. Your own is never done.

Well tripod in hand and Ashleigh in shoot mode, we stood and posed and turned and froze and sat and stood and looked this way and that. We dont quite have the shot I wanted and we certainly dont have enough with him in them, but there was only so many times he was going to focus, set the timer and run to us.

But it went well.

Until I realised that there was not one shot of Ashleigh with his three boys and he should have told me to put my feet together. Nothing is ever perfect though is it?

I think we do perfectly well being not remotely perfect. Somehow it fits.

xxxx

rough love or confused positioning

Something weird and unpleasant is happening in our home at the moment and I'm not sure how it has festered into this 'situation' we are seemingly in.

Oliver is feeling out of place. I think Oliver is feeling out of place. Actually I'm not at all sure as he seems to love Charlie with the force of nature that comes in the form of  love for a child. Except that Charie is our child and his brother. Something has shifted. Possibly shifting for some time but now we've hit the wall.

When Olie was a baby, my mother remarked that he had an incredible sense of self. He does and it will hopefully steady him when life throws arrows at him which it is guaranteed to do at some point. The problem with that level of confidence is that he believes he is in control and has control when really he is still a little boy. 

I am teetering on the knife edge between letting it sort itself out and banning him from being near the baby. Totally shit if you ask me.

I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that he would do anything for Charlie. I am also beginning to have no doubt that he would do anything to Charlie. And I don't think its because he is jealous neceassarily. More that he loves him so much, SO much, that he can't control the impulses to go too far. Taking that tickle to the next level of poking those fingers in as far as possible, stroking him on the forehead that morphs into rough rubbing of the forehead. Little things that turn suddenly into something aggresive and scary. Charlie has begun to look at Oliver with a mixture of adoration and caution. Its heartbreaking. This week has seen Charlie react with fear to for the first time since he came into our lives. Both times it was Oliver using a booming voice and a sudden table smack or appearing suddenly right in Charlies face and shouting a word. I know that at nine months Charlie is in the fear learning curve, but it was a very sudden development.

This baby of ours does not cry unless really pushed (extremely over tired, waited more than long enough for his dinner) and I think he has been pushed. The other night, after he was wondersuited up for bed, Oliver and I were sitting with him and suddenly he went crazy with crying. Oliver was as far across the room as humanly possible in a blink, squawking that he was only patting him. I thought he must have squeezed Charlies arm. The next morning I found a full set of teeth marks on Charlie. I was absolutely floored. I dont think he meant to bite him at all. I think that when he is busy 'loving' Charlie, the impulse to go further, to want to eat him up and love him to pieces, must swell up in him and he does things without realising it.

Any kind of sibbling issues were well off the page as far as we were concerned. Henry was delighted with his "baby Oggy George" and we thought both boys were so much older, there was no reason for any kind of jealousy to occur.

Now the big question is, of course, do we ignore things? How much? We have spoken to him, consequences have been dished out and he appears to be mortified and understanding. Without putting Charlie at risk, do we just stand back and let Oliver come to terms with his emotions? Have you experienced anything like this?

lately

Charlie moved to the big table. His excitement was so much fun.

I did something radical. Well for me anyway-there was a lot of hair on the floor!

Can I just say this habit we all have of trying to take our own photos? Crazy. Arms were not meant to bend that way while trying to take aim and touch the button your phone. Ouch

Sleep is achieved with coverage. Actually makes it an easy clue when we're out as he starts draping things over his face. Funny kid.

This is getting there. The quilting has begun.

I cant beleive this happened so fast! I found myself looking at 1st birthday cards and had to stop myself. I want to savour every single moment with this litte guy. I'd forgotten how fast it whips by. I'm so glad I dont have to race off to an office or set and miss it all.

These portraits have become a case of"quick get the shot no no no please dont move ok grab the (insert appropriate letter/number)" etc

I bought this cut and sew picture book from Spoonflower. I was a little nervice expecting it to be quite bright and stiff but it is absolutely divine! Soft and vintage in appearance. I put a piece of cotton batting inside each 'page' to make it more baby squish and suck friendly.

School Spring Fete sweat shop.

There has been gorgeous sunshine these last few days so baby and I have been doing some park lolling. I'm sure thats a technical term....

This is the cardigan I finished the other night. All the details are on my ravelry page. I want you to know that I love it. LOVE IT. Yes I know it needs some buttons : )

 xx

Where

Oh wow HELLO!! I've missed you here. 

I'm not even going to try to say I dont know how the empty space here happened. I know how exactly how it went down.

I weaned a baby onto food (which was such a big deal and I wasnt ready but he clearly was and loves everything), finished a sesquicentenial quilt for the boys school ( I'll post some photos later but its out and hanging and everyone loves it so phew), spent a lot of time moonlighting over at In Alfie's Room and did a spot of knitting. And Pinterest. Man oh man do I get stuck inside the vortex of Pinterest. Wow.

I cannot tell you how many times I have made and devoured this caramel slice recently. Pinterest is my recipe google. Guru.....?

We finally admitted that this little person was about to bust hulk style out of his moses basket. One last sleep heavily photographed. I believe I sobbed just a little. Milestones and all that....

Into a cot. Not 'The Cot' but one that fits behind the door until further notice. He wasnt quite sure what to do with the space. Laughed like a crazy baby for quite some time. Again-heavily photographed.

I knitted this vest (which took forever in 4ply) only to decide that I could not send him out in public looking like Wallace's understudy.

So I knit him a cardigan. Rather similar effect yes?

I've been sewing fitted sheets. Never in my dreams did I think I'd make sheets, but it is a ridiculously fast domestic goddess act. The practical things can be the most satisfying cant they?

I spend a lot of time making tickle hands. And singing in kooky voices. The things I do for a grin from this kid!

I learnt that photoshoots are getting challenging. Yes I wrestled with a seven month old over felt letters. He won.

But I dont care cause he's the sweetest thing on the planet.

And I have realised that I am happiest with black or blue on my nails. A maintenace nightmare but I love seeing my fingers all dark and moody. Butter London has a lot to answer for. Another addiction! Sheesh.

So I would understand if you thought after all those pics that I'm only here to show off the now giant baby right?! 

Nah. That was just a bonus : )

Henry went on his first big school camp. Henry has also decided to start behaving like a teenager which I guess makes him a tweenie yes? 

Oliver seems to be going through some family position reckoning which I hadnt banked on AT ALL. I thought the age gap was so stupendously huge that there would be no bumps. Wrong.

So we are all good. Cabin fever, teething and hormonal tweenies but good. Chocolate fixes everything. And I need a haircut but thats normal.

How are you??

xxxx

 

Charlie's Bonnet Tutorial

I love a baby in a bonnet and was all set to knit another for this boy but he gets itchy. I have deep seated paranoia that he will have eczema like Olie but thats another story.

So with some leftover flannel from Henrys dressing robe, I fashioned a simple bonnet.

Start by measuring your baby/ child from the hairline ( or where you want the bonnet to finish) to the nape of the neck.

Then take a measurement from just below the jawline up around the face and down to just below the jawline on the other side.

Using some scrap fabric ( I had some slubby linen) you will make a toile.

You need a centre piece, wider at the front (I find the width from the outside edge of each eye is good) and then narrowing as it finishes at the nape of the neck.

You then need two side pieces. This is where the toile is vital because when you try it on the little person you will be able to pin and adjust as necessary.

Once the toile fits, take to it with a pair of scissors. Cut along the stitching lines that were the final fit.

Press your pieces flat and there you have your pattern pieces. You will add seam allowance when you cut out the real fabric.

I chose a contrasting flannel for the lining and also because I thought it would be sweet to make this reversable.

Cut out two centre panels ( one in main and one in lining) then four side pieces (two in main and two in lining).

Pin the seams together and sew together making sure to ease them around the curve. Clip.

Now turn the main fabric the right way around and leave the lining inside out.

Position the lining bonnet inside the main bonnet.

Now measure the bottom edge of the bonnet. Cut a piece of binding 4cm wide to the length of the edge.

Pin it into place with right sides together on the main fabric. Machine into position.

Now turn it under 1/4 of an inch and fold it over onto the lining side. Pin into place and whip stitch into position just like you would a quilt binding.

Now measure from corner to corner along the front of the bonnet. Add 20cm at each end for ties. Cut out your binding to this length. Find the centre and pin right sides together on the main side starting at the centre back. Work your way around the edge from the centre. This will give you even ties on each side.

Machine into place from corner to corner on the bonnet leaving the ties untouched. Turn and fold under as you did the lower binding.

When youve whip stitched around the face of the bonnet, press and turn under the ties and whip stitch into place.

Done! I honestly made a cup of tea and sat down to make this bonnet with tea not going stone cold. Its very quick once you've taken the measurements and have your pattern pieces.

And then you get to put it on the little recipient who might go " NOooooooooo not a bonnet!! Ohhhh"

Followed closely with " Im begging you mummy-I can't go out like this" !!

Now I er on the side of "it only fits for five seconds" caution and tend to make things too big. If you make your bonnet to fit it will look more 'super spunky baby' and less 'little house on the prairie'. Not that I'm knocking that show. Loved it. But ...well... you know.